Surgical Versus Nonsurgical Treatment for Spinal Stenosis

Completed · Phase 3

Conditions studied: Spinal Stenosis

In brief

Lumbar spinal stenosis (a narrowing of spaces in the backbone that results in pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots) is a condition that occurs frequently, particularly in the elderly. This condition can lead to significant pain and limit a person's ability to function. Moreover, doctors disagree about the best way to treat people with lumbar spinal stenosis. In this study we will compare surgical treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis with nonsurgical treatment using physical therapy. The results of this study should help clarify which treatment strategies are the most effective for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00022776

Run by

University of Pittsburgh

People needed

178

Starts

2000-09-01

Expected to finish

2007-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2013-02-27

Who can join

Age: 50 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Imaging evidence of stenosis
• Unable to walk more than 1/4 of a mile
• No prior surgery for stenosis
• Consents to surgery
• Speaks English

You may not qualify if…

• Presence of dementia or organic brain syndrome
• Coronary artery disease, recent myocardial infarction, pulmonary or vascular disease
• Spondylolisthesis (> 5 mm slippage)
• Severe osteoporosis
• Metastatic cancer

Where it is running

• University of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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